How to Transform Conflict and Gain Respect

Entrepreneur.com just published my article about dealing with conflict. It begins:

“Wouldn’t it be a different world if everybody behaved in a way that is to your liking? Unfortunately, people’s responses can often be anger, resentment, dissent or sarcasm. That can feel like a slap in the face, with your first response being to retaliate. At first glance, the very idea of simply “turning the other cheek” can seem weak, pathetic and ineffective, not to mention unnatural. But if you take a more insightful look, turning the other cheek can offer a powerful, effective and masterful response”…

2 Comments

Maura
on December 1, 2016 at 2:23 pm

I think the reason that turning the other cheek (that is, allowing space and giving the other person a chance to reflect) can feel strong rather than weak is that it can require a huge amount of self-mastery to do it, and the person doing it knows that, so she respects herself for doing it.

My observation sometimes in life is that some people do not reflect on themselves, though, so they do not eventually come around, despite having been given the chance. Or, they may finally come around, but the other party needed to move on, already.

Giving the other person a chance to reflect and hoping they eventually come around works well in situations that involve regular conflict, as in the workplace conflict in the article. I do not think it is for situations that are dangerous or involve abuse. I see it applied there often, with disastrous results.

Crystal Hurbi
on December 1, 2016 at 3:02 pm

A great article on dealing with people and difficult situations in the workplace. The bonus is that these articles help in my personal life too!